Testing apparatus



Dec. 5, 1939. A. D. ADAHR 2,182,368

TESTING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 6, 1938 a @251. 7a 5 77 r/ 50 7/ 4 i 7/ 3 i A I i 1 i 7 $6. 2. N 7? 23 r 7 Inventor v7.17. flda/r Patented Dec. 5, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

My invention relates to testing apparatus for use in connection with pressure regulators such as are interposed in household gas lines.

The primary object of the invention is to pro- 6 vide an inexpensive device for clamping and sealing such regulators, introducing air or gas under pressure into the same and accurately gauging pressure under which the regulator operates.

To the accomplishment of the above, and subordinate objects presently appearing, the preferred embodiment of my invention, has been illustrated in the accompanying drawing, set

- forth in detail in the succeeding description and 15 defined in the claims appended hereto.

In said drawing:

Figure 1 is a view in front elevation of testing apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention, and

Figure 2 is a detailed fragmentary View in side elevation illustrating the manner in which the regulator is clamped and sealed.

Referring to the drawing by numerals, the apparatus of my invention comprises a substantially rectangular frame I including parallel legs 2 preferably of tubular form and provided With lower end feet 3 by means of which said frame may be secured, as at 4, in upright position on a base 5. The upper ends of the legs 2 are con nected together by a cross-bar 5 having a central vertical aperture I therein and a collar 8 surrounding said aperture. A second cross-bar 9 connects said legs 2 slightly above the transverse center thereof, said bar 9 having interposed therein a vertically disposed guide sleeve I axially aligned with the aperture 1. The guide sleeve It] has slidably fitted therein a tubular member I I provided with a closed upper end I2 extending above said sleeve and an open lower end I3 extending below the sleeve. A coiled spring IA having its opposite ends connected to said bar 6 and to the upper end I2 of the member II, as at l6 and I5, respectively, urges said member upwardly. Fixed on the lower end I3 of the member II concentrically thereof and with said end extending slightly below the same, is a combined sealing and clamping member ll of annular form having an upper metal back I 8 and a lower beveled facing I9 of resilient material such as rubber. A stop collar 2!] on the member I! intermediate member 11 and sleeve iii limits upward movement of said member ll under the urge of the spring l t by engagement with the lower end of said sleeve I0. v

Extended through the base in axial alignment with member I I is a pressure pipe line 2! adapted to be connected below the base, by an elbow 22, to a supply line 23 leading from a suitable source of air or gas pressure, not shown, said line 2| having its upper end terminating well below the end I3 of member II and provided thereon with a combined clamping and sealing member 24 similar to member H but reversed with the beveled resilient facing 25 uppermost. A valve 26 interposed in the pressure pipe line 2i provides for controlling the passage of air or gas therethrough.

The member I! is designed to be moved downwardly in opposition to the spring It to clamp. in a manner presently described, a regu ator between the members ll and 24 and by means of the following. A hand lever 2'! is pivoted at one end, as at 28, on a post 29 arising from the bar 6, said lever being vertically movable above the bar 6 and operatively connected, as by the pin and slot connection 30, 3|, to the upper end of a plunger rod 32 slidably mounted in the aperture 1 and collar 8 and with its lower end bearing on the closed end I2 of member II. An arcuate detent rack 33 is secured to the bar 6, as at 34, in upstanding position alongside said lever 21. 'A detent dog 35 is pivotally mounted, at 36, on said lever 2! to engage said rack and dog upward movement of saidlever, said dog being disengaged by the usual hand grip 31 on the lever 21 operatively connected to the dog 35 by a link 38.

A pressure release cook 39 extends laterally from the member II adjacent the upper end of the latter. A nipple 40 extends laterally from said member ll opposite the cock 39 and is connected by a hose M to a well-known type of tubular mercury gauge 44 suspended on an arm 43 extending laterally from one leg 2, the gauge 44 being of a type adapted for registering pressure. variations therein.

The members I I and 24 are designed for the clamping therebetween of a well-known type of regulator, shown in Figure 2, and comprising a casing 45 forming an expansible chamber adapted to expand under a fixed pressure, said casing having extending laterally therefrom a T-fitting 46 for coupling in a gas line.

Referring to the use and operation of the described invention, the hand lever 21 is manipu lated upwardly to raise the plunger rod 32 and permit the member I! to move upwardly under the urge of the spring I4 into the limits of movement thereof as determined by engagement of the collar 29 with the sleeve I0. In this position 5 susceptible of modification without departing 'of the parts, the combined clamping and sealing member I! is spaced well above the opposed member 24. The fitting 4 3 is now positioned'over the member 24 and the hand lever 21 manipulated downwardly to correspondingly move the plunger rod 32 and depress the member i l until the combined clamping and sealing member I! is properly positioned relative to the fitting 46 to clamp the latter between the same and the member 24 in sealing position relative to the. opposite ends of said fitting. The control valve 26 may now be opened to permit air under pressure to pass through the line 2i into and through the casing 45 by way of the fitting 4'5 and into themember II, the pressure as it rises being registered in the gauge 44. When the casing 45 expands, the pressure under which such action takes place may be determined by reading the gauge d4. After the test is made the cook 39 may be opened to relieve the pressure in the line as will. be understood. The dog 35 may then be disengaged from the rack 33 by means of the detent lever 31 and the hand lever 21 elevated to permit the member H to rise under the urge of the spring I4 thereby moving the member H out of clamping and sealing relation. 7

The foregoing will, it is believed, sufiice to impart a clear understanding of my invention Without further explanation. r

Manifestly, the invention as described, is

from the inventive concept, and right is herein reserved to such modifications as fall within the scope of the subjoined claims.

What I claim is:

1. Apparatus for testing regulators having a pipe fitting extending-therefrom comprising a base, a vertically disposed frame on said base, a

pressure line upstanding from said base, a tubular member vertically reciprocable in said frame toward and from the upper end of said line axially of the line and having a closed top and an end opposed to the upper end of said line, means to reciprocate said member including a hand lever pivoted on the frame, a pair of combined clamping and sealing members of annular form fixed tothe opposed ends of said line and tubular mem-- ber, respectively, for clampingly engaging opposite ends of said pipe fitting therebetween under downward movement of said tubular member, a pressure gauge connected to the upper end of said member, and apressure release cock at the upper end of said tubular member for exhausting the pressure therefrom at will.

2. Apparatus for testing regulators having a y pipe fitting extending therefrom comprising a base, a vertically disposed frame on said base, a pressure line upstanding from said base, a tubular member vertically reciprocable in said frame toward and from the upperend of said line axially of the line and having a closed top and an end opposed to the'upper end of said line, means to reciprocate said member including a hand lever pivoted on the frame, a pair of combined clamping and sealing members of annular form fixed to the opposed ends of said line and tubular member, respectively, for olampingly engaging opposite ends of said pipe fitting therebetween under downward movement of said tubular member, and a pressure gauge connected to the upper end of said member, said combined clamping and sealing members including a pair of opposedresilient exteriorly beveled facings for sealing said ends of said fitting.

ALONZO D. ADAIR. 

